Vitamin C And Its Benefits For Skin
Today, vitamin C has become an essential part of not only our diet but also our daily skin routine! Vitamin C’s first claim-to-fame was its role in preventing scurvy, but we now know that vitamin C, has a lot more to offer than this. Vitamin C is a well known as a great antioxidant powerhouse that promotes healthy and glowing skin. Daily requirement of body includes combination of nutrients in varied amount so that it can function at its best. Vitamin C is not only immune boosting nutrient but it has a lot more to offer than this. It is a very important player when we talk to about skin health. Vitamin C plays an important role in protecting skin color and rejuvenating it, no matter if it is consumed in form of food or applied topically in form of creams and serums. It is an essential part of the skin care regime because a lot of Vitamin C is stored in your skin, it helps rejuvenate and protect your skin color whether you consume it in form of food or apply it topically. Vitamin C should be a part of your skincare regime equally important as washing your face or applying sunscreen.
Benefits of Vitamin C Consumption
Prevent Sun Damage
As skin gets exposed to sunlight or UV light, free radicals are produced which can lead to degradation of skin cells and collagen. This degradation triggers inflammation and can result in skin issues like photoageing, sun spots, photodamage, fine lines etc. Vitamin C is a very potent antioxidant which works by neutralizing the free radicals and hence protects the skin cells from damage by reducing inflammation and its effects. Many studies have shown that people with high Vitamin C intake have witnessed delayed ageing signs and skin condition.
Improve strength and firmness: Vitamin C is not only beneficial in preventing sun damage but also helps in activating fibroblast which in turn makes new collagen. This makes skin look more firmer and further reduces signs of ageing.
Heals skin: Minor cuts and burns can leave a scar most of the times. Here Vitamin C has a major role to play by repairing the damaged skin. Keratinocytes are the cells which close up the wound on the surface of skin. Vitamin C helps in formation of these cells. Though taking higher quantity of vitamin C will not fasten up the process of healing but it insufficient intake can definitely delay the healing process.
What is The Daily Requirement
The recommended daily intake of vitamin C is 90 mg; and 75 mg for male and female respectively. Food items like: Green peppers, broccoli, oranges, papaya, strawberries and cantaloupe are a great source of vitamin C. A lot of researches have shown that consuming two antioxidants in combination can provide better protection against any kind of UV damage. So prefer consuming fruits and vegetables which are rich in Vitamin E like almonds, peanut butter and sunflower seeds along with the food items rich in Vitamin C.
Benefits of Vitamin C Application on Skin
Antioxidant protection: Vitamin C work as a great antioxidant not only when consumed but also when applied topically on skin. It works by preventing free radical damage that can lead to inflammation as a result of exposure to sun and pollution. Vitamin C is available in various forms in a range of serums. The best option is to opt for L-ascorbic acid form of vitamin C as they have ability to penetrate little deeper into skin layers. Although it is well known that sunscreen is the best option to protect skin from UV light, but adding a bit of vitamin C- containing serum before that will add an additional effect to prevent photodamage. Improve signs of aging: It has been witnessed that Vitamin C containing lotions and creams have a role to play in collagen production by triggering fibroblast. Collagen production will help delay and reduce the signs to ageing like fine lines, wrinkles etc. It not only triggers collagen production but also delays its breakdown thus preserving the structure of skin.
Even toned skin: Vitamin C not only helps in delaying signs of ageing but also restrict the excess production of melanin pigment cells, thus over the period of time it helps reduce the dark spots. Always consult your dermatologist to give you the best regimen as per your skin condition. It is been seen that Vitamin C when used in combination with Soy and Licorice extract will work better. Hair Benefits of Vitamin C: Vitamin C is not only beneficial for skin but also benefits hair. As it is an important component to make collagen. Vitamin C is helpful in absorbing non-heme iron, which is a important mineral for hair growth.
Choosing The Right Vitamin C Product For Skincare
Best option is to spot L-ascorbic acid in ingredient list of the product. As vitamin C works better in combo with vitamin E then look for products that contain alpha tocopherol which is active form of vitamin E. Keep a note that the ingredients are mentioned in descending order of concentration so choose them wisely or consult your dermatologist before opting for a product. Preservation of product is also important as ascorbic acid degrades quickly if exposed to sunlight, so opt for opaque jar packing and store them away from sunlight.
